UKRAINIAN VILLAGE – The owners behind a recently closed Ukrainian Village restaurant and art gallery are planning to convert it into a queer-focused event venue for weddings, parties and more — if they can raise enough money this month.
Zoe Schor and Whitney LaMora ran the restaurant Split-Rail and art gallery The Martin, 2500 W. Chicago Ave., until December. They closed the businesses due to ongoing pandemic-related challenges, they announced in November.
The couple’s popular lesbian cocktail bar Dorothy in Split-Rail’s basement was not impacted and remains open.
Since announcing Split-Rail’s closure, Schor said they’ve received an outpouring of support from customers and fans, inspiring a potential second chapter for the location: an event venue called Villanelle.
Schor and LaMora plan to create a dedicated space for members of the LGBTQ+ community to celebrate all kinds of events and life milestones — weddings, rehearsal dinners, birthday parties and more.
The name Villanelle is a reference to a French form of poetry and a nod to the couple’s honeymoon in Paris, Schor said.
“Our hope is to create a well-rounded, queer-focused, safe space, where whether it’s people getting married or people celebrating different life events, you don’t risk having somebody there who might cast judgment on you or wonder why two women are getting married or anything like that,” Schor said.
Villanelle’s future is contingent on the couple fulfilling their Kickstarter campaign, launched last week. The campaign has so far raised about 10 percent of a $75,000 goal to pay for renovations and cover the first few months of expenses.
Kickstarter works on an all-or-nothing model, so if the couple doesn’t meet that number by the end of February, the project will not move forward, Schor said.
The fundraiser includes various rewards for different donation levels, ranging from a branded hat for $150 to a private party at Villanelle with a custom menu designed by Schor for $10,000.
As she and LaMora shift gears to hopefully open Villanelle, Schor said Split-Rail will still exist as the venue’s caterer, acting as a sort of “on-demand” restaurant.
That mean the biscuits and fried chicken Schor has become known for will be available for events. She’s also offering an “elevated” French bistro menu in line with Villanelle’s brasserie-inspired decor. Full menu options can be found here.
Dorothy, the basement bar, is also available for private events, on top of regular community gatherings like its Silent Book Club.
Dorothy’s popularity was a big reason why Schor and LaMora wanted to launch Villanelle, Schor said. They hope to continue creating spaces for the LGBTQ+ community — although nobody will be turned away from hosting an event at their new venue, they said.
“The most important thing here … is this idea of creating this queer community space where you can come and wholly be yourself and celebrate the way you the way you want to celebrate,” Schor said. “We’re everywhere, so let’s have spaces everywhere.”
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